I will not contest UP Assembly Elections, asserts Atiq Ahmed

Lucknow: Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed on Thursday said that he will not contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections even if Samajwadi Party President and state chief minister Akhilesh Yadav offers him a ticket.

Speaking during a press conference here, Atiq said that he himself will announce this after meeting with Akhilesh Yadav.

It may be mentioned that Mulayam Singh included Atiq Ahmed's name in the list of candidates he gave to Akhilesh.

Political analysts, however, believe that CM most probably would reject his name and hence, Atiq decided to rule himself out from contesting the election.

- Elections in Uttar Pradesh is important because Central government is in the majority but it lacks its dominance in Rajya Sabha.

- Akhilesh Yadav wants his image to be clean and hence, he will not offer me the ticket.

- It is CM's right to offer the ticket whomsoever he wants to.

- If my entry in the party will affect CM's image, I will not fight elections.